Dubai: Shaikh Suhail Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum snatched pole position for the Umm Al Quwain Rally with a fine run at the corniche last night.
Shaikh Suhail, the defending UAE rally champion, had things under control as he and co-driver Wael Marjan guided their Subaru Impreza to a time of one minute and 50 seconds in the 2km Spectators Stage.
But laying out an early challenge was last year's winner in UAQ, Shaikh Abdullah Al Qasimi and Gaby Khoury in their Mitsubishi Lancer with a similar time of 1.50.
Though tied with identical times, Shaikh Suhail will start off first.
Coming in third was younger brother Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi in his Power Horse-backed Subaru Impreza with a time of 1.51.
Sadiq Fadhil and Imad Nabhan teamed up in their Mitsubishi Lancer to clock the fourth best time with 1.53, while late entrant Nizar Shanfari completed the top five also with a 1.53.
"I am happy with the way we performed to earn the right to start first," Shaikh Suhail told Gulf News from Umm Al Quwain.
Shaikh Suhail, who stood second behind Shaikh Khalid in last month's Sharjah Rally, knows the challenges that lie ahead, if he is to reclaim his crown.
"The idea is to go all out and see how much we can push the car," Shaikh Suhail.
"The field is tough and everyone is hungry to win tomorrow," he added.
The two-day event is being organised by the Emirates Motor Sports Federation (EMSF), under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Rashid Bin Ahmad Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain.
Hundreds of racing enthusiasts lined up along the corniche as some of the UAE's top drivers displayed their skills over a 2km custom-built track yesterday evening.
Drivers and their co-drivers will gather at the Emirates Motoplex in UAQ at 9.30am today and head out to tackle the desert sections of the rally over a stretch of 205kms.
